Press release

Brazilians are new champions of Women’s Pan Am Cup

Brazilian players along with international and local authorities during the closing ceremony of the Women's Pan American Cup on Saturday

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, July 9, 2011 – Olympic champions Brazil dethroned Dominican Republic as new queens of the Women’s Volleyball Pan American Cup by winning the decisive match in consecutive sets (25-20, 25-22, 25-19) in front of a packed house at Colegio de Bachilleres Gymnasium on Saturday.

In the match for third place, United States defeated Cuba to take the bronze medal.It is the third gold medal for the Brazilians in the history of the event. They also won in 2006 and 2009. The Dominicans, who have finished among the top three in each of the 10 editions, took the silver for a fifth time.

Jose Roberto Gimaraes, Brazilian coach. “I am glad with the results. The matches against Dominican Republic are always good as we play at the same level. Now we must continue in our preparation for the events that lie ahead of us.”

Marcos Kwiek, coach of Dominican Republic: “We played very well the whole tournament, but today Brazil had more consistency and pushed us hard with their blocks. Also we failed in key points. It is with pride that we take the silver medal.”

In other matches on Saturday:United States scored a convincing straight-set victory over Cuba (25-21, 25-16, 25-13) to claim the bronze medal for second year in a row.

Nancy Metcalf led three American players in double digits with 18 points. The veteran lefty was followed by Foluke Akinradewo and Jennifer Joyner-Tamas with 13 and 11 points respectively. Cuba’s Kenia Carcaces finished with 16 points.